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APPROVED 11/17/2009 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> WORK SESSION <br /> October 13, 2009 <br /> 7:00p.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a work session on Tuesday, <br /> October 13, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, NC. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Valerie P. Foushee, and Commissioners <br /> Alice Gordon, Pam Hemminger, Barry Jacobs, Bernadette Pelissier, and Steve Yuhasz <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Mike Nelson <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Frank Clifton and Clerk to the Board <br /> Donna S. Baker (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) <br /> 1. Land Application of Wastewater Biosolids <br /> Environment and Resource Conservation Director Dave Stancil said that he and <br /> Rosemary Summers will be tag-teaming. He said that the County has been dealing with <br /> biosolids and sludge application since the 1980's. He said that this is not a new issue. <br /> Recently, in March 2008, someone came to the Board about Burlington's biosolids permit <br /> renewal. This set in stage some actions and memoranda from the advisory boards, Board of <br /> County Commissioners, and the Division of Water Quality. These are all attached to the <br /> abstract. He said that in the end, there were a number of issues identified. In August 2009, <br /> there was a proposal by the Health Department to take work with the UNC School of Public <br /> Health and turn it into a forum concept. The forum process would have a neutral party to <br /> come and provide information about the topic and boil issues down to key questions that need <br /> to be answered or that need further research. The legality of the issues has been addressed <br /> by John Roberts in the attachments. <br /> Health Director Rosemary Summers said that the Health Department does have a <br /> program governed by local rules of monitoring of biosolid sites in Orange County. The <br /> monitoring is done by unscheduled visits when the Health Department is notified that the <br /> application will be taking place. This monitoring is only done to make sure permits are being <br /> followed and there is no regulatory authority. The Health Department could report to the <br /> Division of Water Quality, who is the regulator and enforcer. <br /> Dave Stancil said that Cooperative Extension has been involved in these discussions <br /> along with ERCD and the Health Department. He made reference to the four bullets on page <br /> 3, which are bigger picture questions: <br /> • Engaging the State and utility providers in an enhanced monitoring and maintenance <br /> program, <br /> • Memoranda of Agreement with the State or with utility providers tp provide for more <br /> communication and monitoring, <br /> • Exploration of activities by other counties around the nation in addressing biosolids <br /> issues, and <br />